Anthony Christian Claus Kumpen (born 3 November 1978) is a Belgian professional racing driver and team manager. Kumpen currently works as team manager for PK Carsport in the NASCAR Euro Series. He previously competed full-time in the series, winning the championship twice, in 2014 and 2016. He also joint-held the record of the most 24 Hours of Zolder wins with six.
Racing career
In 1988, Kumpen started kart racing. He moved on to Belcar, the Belgian Racing Car Championship, in 1998, winning the GT2 championship in his first year, and the GT championship in 1999. He won several more Belgian GT and GTA championships over the next decade. In 2000, he won the overall classification at the 24 Hours of Zolder, a feat he would repeat in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2010 and 2012 for a record total of six victories.
In 2000, Kumpen started competing in the FIA GT Championship for the Paul Belmondo Racing team. His first victory in a race in this championship followed in 2002. More victories followed in 2005 (2), 2006, 2008 and 2009 (2).
Kumpen also competed in the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In 2014, Kumpen competed in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the PK Carsport team, driving a Holden VF Commodore. He won one race in the championship, and ended the season in first place, one point ahead of defending champion Ander Vilariño.
Kumpen's win gave him a license to compete in the 2015 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, racing for Bill McAnally. On 7 June, as part of the Nexteer Automotive Road To Daytona program, he announced his intentions to compete in the Xfinity Series, running three races at Iowa Speedway, Phoenix International Raceway and Homestead-Miami Speedway. In 2016, he announced that he would run the Xfinity Series season opener at Daytona for Precision Performance Motorsports, driving the No. 46 Chevy. He continued his part-time slate in the Xfinity Series in 2017, adding two races at Daytona and Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, driving the No. 46 Chevy for PPM. Kumpen was also in discussions with Rick Ware Racing to make his Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series debut with the team in 2018, but it never materialised because of his doping suspension (NASCAR is a member of ACCUS, which honours FIA doping suspensions such as the one imposed by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium).
Kumpen was suspended for four years by the Royal Automobile Club of Belgium after he failed a drug test during the 2018 24 Hours of Zolder. He had neglected to apply for a therapeutic use exemption concerning ADHD medication. During his suspension, he moved to a management role in PK Carsport and is currently working as the team manager for the Euro Series operations of the team.
Kumpen returned to racing in late 2022, and embarked on a full-time season in the NASCAR Whelen Euro Series for the 2023 season always with their PK Carsport team.
Personal life Kumpen is the son of Paul Kumpen, a former race pilot, Belgian Rallycross Champion 1987 with Porsche 911 BiTurbo 4x4, director of the building company Kumpen, president of VOKA Limburg, and founder of PK Carsport. Paul Kumpen owned 50% of the shares of Ridley Bikes, and Anthony worked as a commercial director for the company, which became the largest bike manufacturer in Belgium. Anthony stayed on at the company after his father sold his share in 2013.
Kumpen lives in Hasselt and is married to Griet Vanhees. They have a son. Kumpen has a daughter and a stepson, from his and his wife's previous relationships. He is the first cousin of Sophie Kumpen, the mother of four-time F1 World Champion Max Verstappen.
In 2010, Kumpen participated in Sterren op de Dansvloer (the Belgian version of Dancing with the Stars) on vtm. He was voted out of the show in the third episode and finished as 8th out of 10 contestants.
Motorsports career results
NASCAR (key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)
Whelen Euro Series – Elite 1 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series – Elite 1 results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 1213 Pts Ref 2014 PK Carsport 24 Chevy VAL VAL BRH BRH TOU TOU NÜR NÜR UMB UMB BUG BUG 1st 656 2015 VAL VAL VEN VEN BRH BRH TOU TOU UMB UMB ZOL ZOL 4th 610 2016 VAL VAL VEN VEN BRH BRH TOU TOU ADR ADR ZOL ZOL 1st 657 2017 VAL VAL BRH BRH VEN VEN HOC HOC FRA FRA ZOL ZOL 2nd 609 2018 VAL3 VAL2 FRA4 FRA5 BRH4 BRH23 TOU18 TOU18 HOC HOC ZOL ZOL 23rd 200 2022ESPESPGBRGBRITAITACZECZE BEL BELCROCRO37th462023ESPESPGBRGBRITAITACZECZEGERGERBELBEL 4th388202466ESPESPITAITAGBRGBRNEDCZECZEGERGERBELBEL27th88
Xfinity Series NASCAR Xfinity Series results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 Pts Ref 2015 Rick Ware Racing 15 Chevy DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL IOW CLT DOV MCH CHI DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX 52nd 53 Precision Performance Motorsports 55 Chevy PHO HOM 2016 46 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL DOV CLT POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 70th 15 2017 DAY ATL LVS PHO CAL TEX BRI RCH TAL CLT DOV POC MCH IOW DAY KEN NHA IND IOW GLN MOH BRI ROA DAR RCH CHI KEN DOV CLT KAN TEX PHO HOM 51st 36
K&N Pro Series East NASCAR K&N Pro Series East results Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts Ref 2015 Bill McAnally Racing 99 Toyota NSM GRE BRI IOW BGS LGY COL 40th 53 Marsh Racing 36 Chevy NHA IOW GLN MOT VIR RCH DOV
Season still in progress Ineligible for series points
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Paul Belmondo Racing Grégoire de Galzain Jean-Claude Lagniez Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTS 44 DNF DNF Team Carsport Holland Racing Box Mike Hezemans Gabriele Matteuzzi Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTS 93 DNF DNF Carsport America Mike Hezemans David Hart Pagani Zonda GR GTS 10 DNF DNF Taurus Sports Racing Phil Andrews Calum Lockie Lola B2K/10 LMP1 35 DNF DNF
Complete 24 Hours of Spa results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 2000 Düller Motorsport Carlo Geeraedts Jérôme Thiry BMW M3 N DNF DNF 2001 Paul Belmondo Compétition Paul Belmondo Claude-Yves Gosselin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT 501 8th 5th 2002 Team Carsport Holland Mike Hezemans Thierry Tassin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT 204 DNF DNF 2003 Force One Racing Philippe Alliot David Hart Mike Hezemans Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT 12 DNF DNF 2004 Renstal Excelsior Eric Cayrolle Marc Goossens Yvan Lebon Chevrolet Corvette C5-R G2 295 DNF DNF 2005 GLPK Carsport Jeroen Bleekemolen Mike Hezemans Bert Longin Chevrolet Corvette C5-R GT1 563 DSQ DSQ 2006 GLPK Carsport Mike Hezemans Bert Longin Kurt Mollekens Chevrolet Corvette C6-R GT1 580 3rd 3rd 2007 GLPK Carsport Frédéric Bouvy Bert Longin Kurt Mollekens Chevrolet Corvette C5-R GT1 529 3rd 3rd 2008 Peka Racing Frédéric Bouvy Bert Longin Kurt Mollekens Saleen S7-R GT1 255 DNF DNF 2009 PK Carsport Mike Hezemans Jos Menten Kurt Mollekens Chevrolet Corvette C6.R GT1 559 1st 1st 2010 Phoenix Racing Marcel Fässler Lucas Luhr Mike Rockenfeller Audi R8 LMS GT3 294 DNF DNF 2011 KRK Racing Team Holland Mike Hezemans Koen Wauters Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 GT3 Pro 151 DNF DNF 2012 KRK Racing Dennis Retera Raf Vanthoor Koen Wauters Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3 GT3 Pro-Am 190 DNF DNF 2013 Phoenix Racing Enzo Ide Markus Winkelhock Audi R8 LMS Pro Cup 453 30th 12th
Complete 24 Hours of Zolder results Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps 1998 AD Sport Erik Bruynoghe Bert Longin Porsche 911 GT2 590 19th 4th 1999 GLPK Racing Stéphane Cohen Marc Duez Porsche 993 GT2 GT1 658 11th 4th 2000 GLPK Racing Stéphane Cohen Marc Duez Chrysler Viper GTS-R GT 756 1st 1st 2001 GLPK Racing Eric Geboers Bert Longin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTA 49 DNF DNF 2002 GLPK Racing Vincent Dupont Mike Hezemans Bert Longin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTA 775 1st 1st 2003 GLPK Racing Vincent Dupont Mike Hezemans Bert Longin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTA 778 1st 1st 2004 GLPK Racing Mike Hezemans Pedro Lamy Bert Longin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTA 777 1st 1st 2005 GLPK Racing Marc Duez Val Hillebrand Bert Longin Chrysler Viper GTS-R GTA 134 DNF DNF 2006 GLPK Carsport Mike Hezemans Bert Longin Kurt Mollekens Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Belcar 1 815 3rd 3rd 2007 PK Carsport David Hart Bert Longin Kurt Mollekens Chevrolet Corvette C6 Z06.R GT3 Belcar 1 DNF DNF 2008 Gravity Racing International Bert Longin Vincent Radermecker Mosler MT900R Belcar 1 DNF DNF 2009 Delahaye Racing Team Marc Goossens Ludovic Sougnez Maxime Soulet Renault Mégane Trophy 4A DNF DNF 2010 First Motorsport Frank Beliën Henk Haane Bert Longin Porsche 997 GT3 Cup S GTB 801 1st 1st 2011 KRK Racing Dennis Retera Raf Vanthoor Koen Wauters Mercedes SLS AMG GT3 GT3 709 3rd 2nd 2012 Team WRT Marco Bonanomi Edward Sandström Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS GT 860 1st 1st 2013 Team WRT Enzo Ide Bert Longin Laurens Vanthoor Audi R8 LMS GT 765 4th 3rd 2014 Avelon Formula Frank Beliën Ivan Bellarosa Bert Longin Wolf GB08 P2 740 2nd 1st 2015 Bas Koeten Racing Frank Beliën Bert Longin Louis Machiels Wolf GB08 P1 109 DNF DNF 2016 PK Carsport Frank Beliën Kris Cools Bert Longin Wolf GB08 Belcar 2 458 44th 4th 2017 PK Carsport Frank Beliën Bert Longin Stienes Longin Porsche 991 GT3 Cup Belcar 7 519 33rd 4th 2018 Heinz POWERKIT.shop by Wolf Racing Ivan Bellarosa Guglielmo Belotti Tom Boonen Bert Longin Wolf GB08 Tornado Belcar 2 780 4th 2nd PK Carsport Christophe Beliën Frank Beliën Pedro Bonnet Tom Boonen Bert Longin Porsche 991 GT3 Cup Belcar 1 676 20th 6th
References
External links Official website